International shipment records lists some of these as development kits for interactive entertainment software and some as console prototypes, purchased by Sony Interactive Entertainment, which leads to the suspicion that these are prototypes for either the PS5 Pro or the PS5 Slim. Since the PS5 launched in November of 2020, it’s likely that the prototypes are a new version of the PS5 that Sony plans to release later in the console’s lifecycle.
Sony has seemingly shipped a ton of PS5 Pro or Slim prototypes
According to the shipping records, a ton of console prototypes have been sent out already. Four cartons were shipped from the UK to Norfolk Virginia back on November 16 of 2021. Meanwhile, Sony has also shipped thousands of console development kits over the past few months. Many of them coming from Japan, with some shipping out of the Republic of Korea or China, heading to either Los Angeles, Long Beach, or Oakland. All of these could be a newer version of the PS5. Though it’s impossible to tell from the limited amount of data being listed. International shipment records lists varying degrees of weight for each shipment. Based on how many units were included. The four console prototype cartons for example have a combined total weight of around 694kg. Which is about 1,530 pounds. One PS5 weighs 3.6kg or about 7.9 pounds. So, whatever the prototypes are, there’s a lot of them. Assuming these prototypes are exactly or close to the same weight as a current PS5, that would account for about 193 units. While Sony hasn’t officially announced a PS5 Pro or PS5 Slim yet, there’s a good chance one is coming. Eventually. And these prototypes and development kits could be the first sign of them. One thing to keep in mind is that the original PS4 launched in 2013. While the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro launched in September and November of 2016 respectively. That’s about three years after the OG console. That doesn’t necessarily mean Sony will wait the same amount of time to launch a PS5 Pro and/or Slim. But it is something to consider with regard to the timing/announcement of new PS5 versions.
